What is the next step in human evolution?

[wikicated]

4 legs
4 arms
8 eyes
so a race of spider people
they would rule the earth and caves

wings
tail
the hand feet things
so race of avian monkeys
and these guys could have domain over the sky and sea

and a brain that could handle multi tasking for both of them
it'd be cool to see some of the races from mtg come around like the vedalken and the viashino

 

[Abengoshis]

Perhaps we will make firm the route from the hippocampus to the conscious areas of the brain allowing us to reach knowledge that we'd forgotten about.


In reality we aren't evolving as other organisms do because we have eliminated the factor of natural selection, so anybody can breed with anybody else, no matter what traits are better.

We will probably stay the same for a long time.

 

[Abengoshis]

Evolution through genetic manipulation is the next step. The movie "Gattaca" spells it out all pretty well.

Yes indeed, We could create an extra chromosome and pack it full of sheer awesomeness... (ie: Super athletic ability (strength, endurance, Enhanced reflexes, exc...) , Hyper intelligence, Regeneration of lost tissue (limbs, organs, exc...), Impervious immune systems) So basically we'd be a race of Spartans...

An extra chromosome...The cause of Down's Syndrome.

 

[Pimppeter2]

Godzilla. Duh.

 

[Amethyst Wind]

I say we'll get wings next, then there'll be no shutting the Catholics up.

 

[ScarlettRage]

I think that we will mutate from all the coffeine and coca-cola.

agreed...
maybe i should stop drinking the giant coffee in front of mee..
NO I LOVES IT TOO MUCH!

 

[Chicago Ted]

Hey, I wouldn't mind an extra set of arms.

 

[OmegaXIII]

Look in hospitals, imagine society without any of that chronic disease - notably cancer and genetic disease. We have built an entire healthcare system around prolonging life with chronic disease, which in turn perpetuates the precipitants to said disease. It sounds immoral as hell but without modern healthcare, humanity would have already started evolving and advancing.

Cancer is a lil bit of a wildcard with its usual manifestation in later life (i.e. after procreation) but is nevertheless still relevant.

 

[cobra_ky]

Thread title suffers from the fallacy that evolution proceeds in steps rather than minuscule increments.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punctuated_equilibrium

Lifeforms are constantly evolving, but major changes in species manifest as a rapid spurt of evolutionary activity in a relatively short amount of time.

I hope it's Wild Dog-style immortality and minigun/flamethrower/rocket lanucher/tractor beam/grappling hook arms.

i just hope Wild Fang is an evolutionary dead end.

 

[Gerazzi]

We will prolly become androgynous.

Sweet! I'm the next step in evolution, apparently!

I fear I just made my grave...

But anyway, I think it'll be more subtle, probably the lack of pinky toes, next, blue eyes and red hair, those being the recessive genes.

 

[cobra_ky]

Look in hospitals, imagine society without any of that chronic disease - notably cancer and genetic disease. We have built an entire healthcare system around prolonging life with chronic disease, which in turn perpetuates the precipitants to said disease. It sounds immoral as hell but without modern healthcare, humanity would have already started evolving and advancing.

Cancer is a lil bit of a wildcard with its usual manifestation in later life (i.e. after procreation) but is nevertheless still relevant.

it could make those genetic diseases more prevalent, but other than that it wouldn't impede evolution.

 

[Ilovechocolatemilk]

I can't believe it hasn't already been said.

Humans have stopped evolving. Therefore, this question is moot.

Edit: Just read the poster commenting on punctuated equilibrium. Indeed, if there ever is human-wide evolution, it will probably be in response to a cataclysmic world-event that brings the entirety of humanity to it's knees. Otherwise, it'll simply be localized evolution, much like how some people of African descent have resistance to malaria (and consequently, a higher chance of developing sickle-celled anemia) or how some people of European descent are immune/highly resistant to HIV because of inherited genes that helped them survive the Black Death.

http://www.bioedonline.org/news/news.cfm?art=1635

 

[wootsniper]

What do you think we will look like a million years from now? (assuming we are still around)Will we gain psychic powers? turn into gelatinous blobs that can only communicate through texting? or perhaps we will become beings of pure energy?

Give me your thoughts.

i think we'd all look like this

 

[UltimatheChosen]

I don't think humans will really evolve much (at least, not in terms of advancement). Medicine and society has really gotten rid of the whole "survival of the fittest" thing. Now, even the most sickly people can live and reproduce.

There's nothing WRONG with that, but it does inhibit genetic advancement (aside from genetic engineering).

 

[Spirultima]

The next step of human evolution is death.

BUT if we find away to delay the inevitable then we will probably not evolve further, humans have never suited to the environment, and rely on animals and resources around us, and thats why we are one of the very few creatures that haven't got fur.

 

[faceless chick]

We will only have 2 fingers, because that's all we need to use the mouse (ok, maybe 3 to use the scroller button too)

 

[obex]

What do you think we will look like a million years from now? (assuming we are still around)Will we gain psychic powers? turn into gelatinous blobs that can only communicate through texting? or perhaps we will become beings of pure energy?

Give me your thoughts.

Well for us to evolve you would need the people with the genetic mutations to have a greater survive chance against those who don't and currently humans do not have any natural predators nor do we still hunt for food we will not evolve further than immunity to diseases like HIV.

In fact we will devolve as the lack of threats to us will not filter out bad genes from the gene pool i mean back 20,000 years ago those fat/stupid kids wouldn't of stood a chance.

 

[The Rockerfly]

I would quite like humanity to develop their brians so they operate from a completly logic stand point
Although I can see some people would object but they would make good scientist, doctors and leaders

I wish I had a Brian....................*sighs*

OT: Genetic engineering probably.

I know your pain. Don't worry, you will find one soon

 

[Overlord_Dave]

To repeat what lots of other people of said (probably; I'm a lazy thread-reader) I see no reason why humans would evolve. At all.

Certainly not biologically, anyway. I'm sure our technology will advance quite a bit before we manage to wipe ourselves out, but as for the 'next step'... I dunno, bionic eyes?

 

[Megacherv]

Thread title suffers from the fallacy that evolution proceeds in steps rather than minuscule increments.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punctuated_equilibrium

Lifeforms are constantly evolving, but major changes in species manifest as a rapid spurt of evolutionary activity in a relatively short amount of time.

I hope it's Wild Dog-style immortality and minigun/flamethrower/rocket lanucher/tractor beam/grappling hook arms.

i just hope Wild Fang is an evolutionary dead end.

Hell yes. I hope the fighter that hit him in TC4 killed him, properly.